Before Saturday night's game against Oakland at O.com Coliseum, Perez argued with a heckler dressed in Athletics gear at the grandstand near the Indians' bullpen. One of the heckler's friends videotaped the confrontation and put it on the Internet. It can still be seen on deadspin.com, but YouTube.com took it down.

Perez had no qualms about the profanity-laced exchange, with Perez using most of the foul language, being captured on video.

"I don't regret it," he said before Monday night's game in Seattle. "I wouldn't have done it (if I regretted it). Looking back, it's not the best thing to be on the Internet and stuff. I had no idea they were videotaping it. I wouldn't have done it if I knew that.

"Looking back, that's what he was planning. So he got me."

Perez said the same fan has been heckling him for four years.

"Let me give you some history," said Perez. "He's been there for four years. I always shag in left field and he's been wearing me out for four years. On Saturday, I was in right center to get away from him. He came around to right center and got on me again.

"I ignored it for 1 1/2 groups (of Indians hitters during batting practice). Then I just said, 'What's your problem? If you got something to say, come down to my face and say it down in the bullpen.' That's what happened."

The video shows his ulterior motives. It's unfortunate. It's out there and I've just got to live and learn from it."

Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti talked to Perez on Monday after viewing the video.

"While there is more to the situation than the video depicts, Chris understands that he should have handled the situation differently," said Antonetti. "In my conversation with him, Chris assured me that he would deal with any future incidents more appropriately."

Cleveland Indians Chatter

Clubhouse confidential: Outfielder Tyler Naquin, the Indians' No. 1 pick in the June draft, is expected to be back in Class A Mahoning Valley's starting lineup Tuesday after being sidelined with back spasms. Naquin has played only 33 of a possible 58 games for the Scrappers, but is hitting .285 (37-for-130) with 21 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, no homers and 13 RBI.

Infielder Cord Phelps has been named the Class AAA International League's Batter of the Week. Phelps hit .500 with three homers, 10 runs and a 1.000 slugging percentage for Columbus from Aug. 13 through Sunday.

Phelps is the fifth Clipper to win the award this season.

Eight is enough: Manager Manny Acta said the Indians could return to a 12-man pitching staff when they return home Wednesday after completing this three-city, nine-game West Coast trip. They are currently carrying 13 pitches, including eight relievers.

"This started after the 11-game losing streak," said Acta. "Our bullpen really got beat up because the starters weren't going deep into the game. It takes time to recover from that. It just doesn't happen in one day."

Stat of the day: Jack Hannahan is hitting .171 (12-for-70) with one homer and three RBI since the All-Star break.

-- Paul Hoynes

The video shows an A's security guard standing next to Perez during the exchange.

Bob Rose, director of public relations for the A's, said: "The A’s security guard on the field stepped in and then monitored the verbal exchange to make sure it did not escalate. The exchange ended and that was the extent of it."

In the video it appeared the Perez asked the security guard to eject the fan, but it's not clear if he was ejected or not.

"You have to live and learn," said Perez. "Luckily, I didn't say too much bad stuff. It was pretty bad, but it could have been worse.

"It's one of those things ... four years and I'd had enough. I'm not even playing the game. I'm shagging. I understand during the game it's all part of the game. It wasn't just a random guy that I just pointed out. It was the same guy for four years who has just been on me and on me."

"We've had really good experiences with their fans," said Perez. "We're right there in that little wood box (bullpen dugout) and all those people are nice. He's an isolated incident.l I've never had any problems warming up there. Usually they're complimentary."

Twice this season Perez has criticized Cleveland fans, once for not coming to Progressive Field and watching the Indians when they were in first place in the AL Central, and again when he questioned their blind loyalty to the Browns and wondered why they couldn't forgive former Cavalier LeBron James.

Ouch: Manager Manny Acta left-hander Rafael Perez sprained an ankle during his latest rehab appearance and has suffered another setback.

"It's lingered longer than we thought," he said.

Perez has been on the disabled list since late April with a strained left lat muscle.

Finally: Pitcher Josh Tomlin is scheduled to visit Dr. Lewis Yocum on Tuesday in Los Angeles to have his sore right elbow checked out. Yocum is an expert in Tommy John surgery. ... Second baseman Jason Kipnis, according to STATS LLC, is one of four players in the big leagues to have 60 or more RBI and at least 20 stolen bases. The others are Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun and Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro.

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